Nakaya, T, Takahashi, H, Nakamur, Y et al. · Microbiology and immunology · 1999 · DOI
This study examined two families where multiple members had ME/CFS and looked for evidence of Borna disease virus (BDV) infection. Researchers found that family members diagnosed with ME/CFS had signs of BDV infection (antibodies and viral RNA), while most healthy family members did not. This suggests a possible link between this virus and ME/CFS, and raises the question of whether the virus might spread within families.
This research provides preliminary evidence linking a specific virus to ME/CFS and suggests possible familial clustering patterns, which could inform future investigations into infectious triggers and transmission routes. Understanding potential viral associations may eventually help develop targeted treatments or identify at-risk individuals.
This study does not prove that BDV causes ME/CFS—it only demonstrates an association in these specific families. The presence of BDV in symptomatic individuals does not establish causation, and the small sample size means findings cannot be generalized to all ME/CFS patients. Additionally, one healthy family member tested positive for BDV antibodies despite no illness, suggesting BDV infection alone may not be sufficient to cause ME/CFS.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Nakaya, T, Takahashi, H, Nakamur, Y, Kuratsune, H, Kitani, T, Machii, T, et al. (1999). Borna disease virus infection in two family clusters of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.. Microbiology and immunology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1348-0421.1999.tb02456.x
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-nakaya-1999-borna-disease,
author = {Nakaya, T and Takahashi, H and Nakamur, Y and Kuratsune, H and Kitani, T and Machii, T and Yamanishi, K and Ikuta, K},
title = {Borna disease virus infection in two family clusters of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Microbiology and immunology},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.1111/j.1348-0421.1999.tb02456.x},
note = {PubMed: 10529109},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nakaya-1999-borna-disease},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nakaya-1999-borna-disease
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